Now Thank We All Our God

What started as a family table prayer during the Thirty Years War has become one of the greatest Thanksgiving hymns ever written. “Now Thank We All Our God” was written by Martin Rinkart, a minister in Germany, in about 1636.  As some of you may know, this was an extremely dark time in European history – not only due to the Thirty Years War but also the plague spreading sickness and disease. Sources state that during the Epidemic of 1637, Rinkart alone presided over 4,000 funerals: sometimes up to 50 in one day.  Amidst these horrors, Rinkart never lost his faith. Incredible, isn’t it? During this dark, miserable time, Rinkart held fast to Christ’s light and the tiniest glimmer of hope. 

How blessed we are to have his words nearly 400 years later. The first two stanzas were inspired by verses in Ecclesiastes 50, while the third and final stanza is a paraphrase of the Gloria Patri. Look closely at Rinkart’s word choices in verse 2 and think of how the plague and war and famine had a part in his writing.

Now thank we all our God
with heart and hands and voices,
who wondrous things has done,
in whom his world rejoices;
who from our mothers’ arms
has blessed us on our way
with countless gifts of love,
and still is ours today.

O may this bounteous God
through all our life be near us,
with ever joyful hearts
and blessed peace to cheer us,
to keep us in his grace,
and guide us when perplexed,
and free us from all ills
of this world in the next.

All praise and thanks to God
the Father now be given,
the Son and Spirit blest,
who reign in highest heaven
the one eternal God,
whom heaven and earth adore;
for thus it was, is now,and shall be evermore.

Prayer

Bounteous God, help us to praise You with full heart, and hands, and voices.  Remind us, that even through our darkest times, You are there. Help us to never lose sight of You. We do thank You at this time of Thanksgiving; help us to thank You throughout all seasons. Amen.